Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to ensure that special education needs are included as part of the core framework for Initial Teacher Training.

All initial teacher training(ITT) courses must ensurethat trainee teachers can meet the Teachers’ Standards; this includes having a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN). Teachers must also be able to adapt teaching to the needs of all pupils, and have an understanding of the factors that can inhibit children being able to learn and how to overcome them.

The government has commissioned an independent working group made up of expert representatives from the sector (including an SEN specialist) to develop a framework of core ITT content. The group, chaired by Stephen Munday CBE (CEO, Comberton Academies Trust), will be considering the extent to which SEN and disabilities should be covered in the framework.